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Sons pay tribute to 'best friend' Alan Thicke, who died Tuesday of a heart attack

Robin Thicke remembered his multitalented dad, Alan Thicke, in an Instagram post worthy of a Father's Day commercial.

The 39-year-old singer wrote: "He was the best man I ever knew. The best friend I ever had. Let's all rejoice and celebrate the joy he brought to every room he was in. We love you, Alan Thicke. Thank your for your love. Love, your grateful son."

His statement echoed the thoughts of his half-brother Carter, who wrote Tuesday that he'd lost his best friend and idol.

Alan Thicke, a Canadian-born TV host, writer and composer who was best known as open-hearted dad Dr. Jason Seaver on the 1980s television show "Growing Pains," died Tuesday of a heart attack. He was 69.

Alan Thicke's Seaver was an enlightened husband working from home to help tend the kids while his wife (Joanna Kerns) revived her career.

"I spent Monday through Friday for seven important years with Alan Thicke as my 'TV dad,'" actor Kirk Cameron said in a statement. "I'm shocked and truly heartbroken today at the news of his death. Alan was a generous, kind and loving man. I am so blessed to have grown up with him."

The show debuted in 1985. In the show's final 1991-92 season, Leonardo DiCaprio joined the TV brood.

DiCaprio, who played a homeless youngster taken in by the Seavers, said Thicke "knew how to harness the power of the entertainment industry to be a positive influence in so many lives — including mine. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I had to work with Alan early in my career. ... I've seen him a number of times over the years, and when Alan Thicke walked in the room, quite frankly, no one was cooler."

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Beloved TV dad Alan Thicke died at 69 on Tuesday from a fatal heart attack. We're looking back at his life in photos, starting with his guest stint as Rich Ginger on 'The Bold and The Beautiful' during a taping on Aug. 10, 2006, at CBS Studios in Los Angeles. Frazer Harrison, Getty Images

Alan Thicke, who had a successful career as an actor and a songwriter of TV theme songs, attended the Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! with his son, singer/songwriter Robin Thicke, at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Dec. 6, 2013. Charley Gallay, WireImage

The actor exchanges vows with model Tanya Callau during their wedding on May 7, 2005, at The One & Only Pamilla Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. At right is Thicke's son Robin. Vince Bucci, Getty Images

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SAG Awards also snubs Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks' best actor oversight for his work in "Sully," was the story of Monday's Golden Globe nominations.

But the beloved actor, who proudly showed his SAG card when he won for "Forrest Gump" at the first-ever Screen Actors Guild Awards in 1995, suffered a second big awards blow Wednesday. This time at the hands of his fellow actors.

He was snubbed for in the best actor category when SAG announced its nominations for its annual awards Wednesday. "Being shut out here does not bode well for his Oscar chances," says Erik Davis, managing editor of the movie site Fandango.com

Also shut out:

Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton, who received raves for their roles as an interracial couple in Jeff Nichols' civil rights romance "Loving," were not nominated for SAG honors.

The late completion of Martin Scorsese's passion project "Silence," starring Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver and Liam Neeson as priests in 17th-Century Japan, meant lack of screening opportunities. That resulted in no Golden Globe nominations, followed by a complete shutout for the the SAG Awards.

Annette Bening, an awards front-runner for her emotional performance as a strong single mother in writer-director Mike Mills' coming-of-age drama "20th Century Woman," received Critics' Choice and Golden Globe nominations. But the actress and film struck out at the SAG Awards noms.

Jessica Chastain plays a sought-after Washington D.C. lobbyist seeking gun control legislation in "Ms. Sloane," and she's earned rave reviews. But director John Madden's film and Chastain were voted down by SAG.

So who's in? "Manchester by the Sea" lead with four nominations, including outstanding performance by a movie cast, actor (Casey Affleck), supporting actor (Lucas Hedges) and supporting actress (Michelle Williams).

Michelle Williams and Casey Affleck earned SAG Awards nominations for 'Manchester By the Sea,' which led the pack with four nods.(Photo: Claire Folger)

Tied for second with three nominations each are Barry Jenkins' transcendent African-American coming-of-age tale "Moonlight" and August Wilson's emotional powerhouse "Fences" both made the cut for outstanding cast. Read more about the SAG nominations here.

The SAG Awards will be given out at 8 p.m. Jan. 29 on TNT and TBS.

Ringling picks 1st female ringmaster

The Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus has its first female ringmaster.

Feld Entertainment is the parent company of the Florida-based circus. The company said in a statement Wednesday that Michelle Wilson will be the first-ever female ringmaster in its 146-year history.

Wilson starts her new role next month and her first performance will be in her hometown of Orlando, Fla., during “Circus Xtreme” show.